49ers draft grades: Gray has potential to be third-round steal

Speed kills, and the 49ers hope their final pick on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft can murder opposing defenses with the help of Kyle Shanahan.

With the final pick in Friday's third round, the 49ers selected SMU wide receiver Danny Gray, a play-making wide receiver with 4.33 speed.

Gray, 6 feet, 186 pounds, spent the first two years of his college career at Blinn College before transferring to SMU. Last season, Gray led the Mustangs with 803 receiving yards (16.4 per catch) and was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection.

Gray has the ability to attack defenses at all three levels and use his speed and athleticism to make defenders miss and rack up yards after the catch.

Gray is a vertical threat who can also attack underneath and has a penchant for creating big plays.

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He had problems with drops in his college career and will need to put on some weight in order to hold up against physical corners in the NFL.

But only four receivers in the 2022 draft class averaged more yards after the catch than Gray. His elite RAC ability and explosiveness at all three levels make him an ideal fit for Shanahan's system.

If he curtails the drops and bulks up, Gray has the potential to be one of the steals of Day 3.

Grade: B

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